§ 12 §13056 — Certificate of number, identification numbers and validation stickers

1.
Prohibition.
1-A.
Operating without certificate of number.
Except as provided in paragraph A, a person may not operate or give permission to operate a motorboat requiring a certificate of number without a current certificate of number or a current temporary certificate of number. Only the certificate of number or temporary certificate of number as issued by the commissioner is valid. Except as provided in subsection 12, paragraph A, a facsimile or copy of the certificate is not valid.
1-B.
Operating without identification number and validation stickers.
A person may not operate or give permission to operate a motorboat without the identification number and validation stickers, assigned by the commissioner and authorized by this chapter, displayed on each side of the bow in accordance with subsection 12, paragraphs A and B or section 13059, subsection 4.
2.
Motorboats requiring.
Except as provided in this subsection, the owner of a motorboat, including an airmobile, used on the waters of the State as the state of principal use shall obtain a certificate of number for the motorboat from the commissioner. No certificate of number may be issued unless the owner submits proof that the watercraft excise tax, assessed under Title 36, chapter 112, has been paid or that the boat is exempt from the watercraft excise tax. The following motorboats are exempt from this subsection:
3.
Other watercraft may be numbered.
Nothing in this section prohibits the numbering of any watercraft upon the request of the owner. The owner shall comply with all applicable requirements of this chapter if the owner chooses to number a watercraft.
3-A.
Homemade watercraft; hull identification number.
The owner of a homemade watercraft shall obtain a hull identification number prior to applying for a certificate of number from the commissioner. In the case of a homemade watercraft that is a houseboat or that is a nonwater-dependent floating structure capable of being used as a means of transportation on water, including, but not limited to, a dock, gazebo, floating swim toy, bathtub, swimming pool or picnic table, the commissioner may issue a certificate of number upon the request of the owner only if the owner provides a letter of inspection and approval for the homemade watercraft from a qualified marine surveyor and demonstrates to the commissioner's satisfaction that the homemade watercraft:
4.
Application.
The owner of a motorboat requiring or of a watercraft for which the owner wishes to request a certificate of number shall make application to the commissioner on forms approved by the commissioner. The application must show the legal residence of the applicant and the place where the watercraft is situated.
5.
Issuance.
Upon receipt of the approved application with the proper fee, the commissioner shall enter the application upon the office records and issue the applicant a pocket-sized certificate of number stating:
6.
Certificate of number; term.
A certificate of number is issued to the owner of a watercraft or a dealer for a specific calendar year and is valid through December 31st of the year for which it was issued.
7.
Numbers permanent.
A number once awarded under this chapter to a motorboat remains with that boat until the boat is destroyed, abandoned, permanently removed or no longer principally used in this State, except that numbers that have been inactive for at least 7 years may be reissued by the division.
8.
Fees.
The fees for each original or renewal certificate of number with 2 validation stickers are set out in this subsection.
9.
Renewal.
The owner may renew the owner's certificate of number at expiration by stating the old number in the owner's application and paying the fee prescribed in subsection 8. The fee is the same fee the owner would pay for the original issuance.
10.
Transfer of ownership.
Whoever transfers ownership of a motorboat for which a certificate of number has already been issued under this chapter and applies for a certificate of number for another motorboat is entitled to a new certificate of number upon payment of a transfer fee of $4 as set forth in subsection 8, paragraph E, provided the applicant returns to the commissioner the old certificate of number properly signed and executed, showing that ownership of the motorboat has been transferred.
11.
New ownership.
If there is a change of ownership of a motorboat for which a certificate of number has previously been issued under this chapter, the new owner shall apply for a new certificate of number and set forth the original boat number in the application. The new owner shall pay the regular fee for the particular motorboat involved and is not entitled to the special transfer fee set forth in subsection 10.
12.
Requirements.
The following provisions establish requirements for certificates of number, identification numbers and validation stickers.
12-A.
Violation of requirements; penalty.
The following penalties apply to violations of subsection 12.
13.
Termination of certificate of number.
Under any of the following conditions, the certificate of number issued by the commissioner is terminated or invalidated:
14.
Dissemination of educational materials required; watercraft dealers.
A watercraft dealer who sells a motorboat in the State shall provide the purchaser of that motorboat with information related to the boater safety and education courses offered by the department as well as information related to those operators who are required to complete those courses.

Legislative History

RR 2003, c. 1, §9 (COR). RR 2003, c. 1, §10 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 414, §A2 (NEW). PL 2003, c. 414, §D7 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 655, §B361 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 655, §B422 (AFF). PL 2005, c. 12, §§III38,39 (AMD). PL 2005, c. 397, §§A55,56 (AFF). PL 2007, c. 44, §§2, 3 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 213, Pt. OO, §§13-15 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 408, §§23-25 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 264, §§3, 4 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 452, §10 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 130, §§1, 2 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 611, §2 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 612, §§2, 3 (AMD). PL 2025, c. 378, §10 (AMD).